Automatic vibrator for telegraph-keys.



' P- T. VAIL.

AUTOMATIC VIBRATOR PO-R TELEGRAPH KEYS.. APP-LIOATIOR 111.121) APB. 29,1901.

2 sums-sum 1.

. l lli "115 z (a 5 au PATENTBD JULY 14,1908.

No. 893,115. A PATENTED JULY 14, 1908, P.T.VAIL.'-

AUTOMATIGVIBRATOR PORTELEGRAPH KEYS.

APPLICATION FILED APB 29,1907.

2 anus-81mm 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK T. VAIL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE INTERNATIONAL VAILOGRAPH COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A COR- PORATION OF ARIZONA TERRITORY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application filed April 29, 1907. Serial No. 370,958.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, FRANK T. VAIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Vibrators for Telegraph Keys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to telegraph keys and has for its especial object to provide an improved vibrator which is adapted to be operated by the key lever of a telegraph key of the standard type of construction.

From another point of view, the invention has for its object to provide an improved. vibrator which is adapted to be actuated by a vertically movable key lever, so that the vibrator may be controlled by a key lever which is held and moved in the customary To the above ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

The improved vibrator, as applied to a telegraph key of standard construction, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the telegraph key with the improved vibrator attached thereto, some parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line a x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view showing the vibrator in front elevation and parts of the telegraph key in transverse vertical section, some parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the key and vibrator, some parts being broken away, and the parts being shown in different ositions than in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detai in section takenthrough the foot of the attachment or vibrator, approximately on the line 00 x of Fig. 4. Y

The numeral 1 indicates a suitable support, such as the top of a table or desk and to which the telegraph key is applied in the i .usual or any suitable way. Of the parts of the telegraphkey the numeral 2 indicates the metallic base thereof having lugs 3 to which the key lever 4 is shown as pivoted in the customary way for vertical oscillatory movements. At its front end, the key lever 4 is shown as provided with the usual finger knob 5, and at its rear end is provided with the customary adjustable stop screw 6. A

contact 7 carried by the key lever 4 cooperates with a contact point 8 of a contact 9 that is insulated from the base 2 but is electrically connected to a horizontally extended contact blade 10. The key lever 4 is yieldingly pressed upward by a spring 11, the tension of which is adapted to be varied by an adjusting screw 12.

The numerals 13 and 14 indicate the circuit wires, the former of which is electrically connected to the'contact 9, and the latter of which is electrically connected to the metallic base 2 of the telegraph key.

The numeral 15 indicates the switch lever which, when the key is operative, is moved into an open position shown in Fig 1, but which when moved into engagement with the outer end of the contact arm 10, closes the main circuit from the wires 1113, through the contacts 9-10, switch lever 15 and base 2, and thus renders the key inoperative.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the line circuit, when the switch lever 15 is moved into its open position shown in Fig. 1, is normally broken between the contact 7 of the key lever 4 and the contact point 8 of the contact 9. The construction thus far specifically described is that of a standard telegraph key.

My improved vibrator in the form which in actua practice has been found highly efficient for the purposes had in view will now be described.

A small metallic column 16 at its base is provided with a horizontally extended bearing foot 17 to which, by means of a metallic screw 18, is clamped a spacing block 19 of insulating material, metallic contact strips 20 and 21 and an insulating strip 22. The clam ing screw 18 forms an electrical connection etween the foot flange 17 and the contact strip 21, but the contact strip 20 is insulated from said parts 17 and 21, and as will be noted by reference to Fig. 5, is provided with an enlarged hole which affords clearance for the screw 18. A presser screw 23 works with threaded engagement through the outer ends of the said parts 17, 19, 21 and 22, but it will be noted that the contact strip 20 has an enlarged perforation through which the said screw 23 is passed with clearance.

When the device is to be attached or applied in operative position, to the telegraph key, the arm made up of the projecting ends of the parts 20, 21 and. 22 is inserted between the metallic base 2 and the projecting contact blade 10 and is secured in said position when the screw 23 is forced against the table or support 1, as shown in Fig. 2. hen thus applied, the upper contact stri 20 has engagement with the contact. blac e 10 and the lower contact strip 21 has engagement with the base 2. j

The vibrator proper is in the form of a spring arm or resilient pendulum, the upper end of which, as shown, is secured to a transverse head 16 of the column 1.6. As shown, this vibratory endulum 24 is made up of rigid upper and lower rod sections that are secured to the ends of a flat spring intermediate section 24 preferably of tempered steel. On the lower end section of this vibratory pendulum is an adjustable weight 25, by the adjustments of which the s eed or interval of vibration may be proper y regulated.

A pendulum tripping lever, shown in the form of a bell crank 26, is pivoted to the upper portion of the column 16 and is yieldingly pressed into engagement with the spring section 24 of said pendulum, by means of a light coiled spring 27, interposed between the projecting arm of said bell crank and an adjusting screw 28, which latter is applied to the head 16 of the column 16. The depending arm of this tripping lever 26 engages the intermediate portion of the vibratory pendulum and presses the depending end thereof against a stop shown as afforded by an adjustable screw 29 seated in an arm 30 that projects from the base of the column 16.

A light vertically disposed trip rod 31 is mounted for vertical movements through laterally projecting bearings 32 of the column 16. The lower end of this trip rod 31 rests upon the forwardly projecting portion of the key lever 4 and, as shown, it is formed rectangular and fits a correspondingly formed seat in the lower bearing 32, so that said rod is held against rotation. The upper end of the trip rod 31 acts upon the projecting arm of the trip lever 26 and, as shown, the upper end portion of said rod is in the form of a sleeve 33 that has screw threaded engagement with the rod 31 and is, therefore, adjustable to vary the length of the complete trip rod.

A contact screw 34 is supported by but insulated from the intermediate portion of the column 16 and its end is preferably provided with a platinum point 34" that is adapted to engage with a small platinum contact 24 which, as shown, is applied to the spring section 2 1 of said pendulum. This contact screw 34 is electrically connected to the contact strip 20 in the base of the column 16 and, hence, is in electrical connection with. the circuit wire 13. As shown, this ('o11ne('- tion is made by a small metal rod 35 which at its lower end is secured to said strip 20 and at its upper end is secured to a contact strip 36 which, in turn, is connected to the said contact screw 34, by means of a lock nut 37 but is, of course, insulated from the pedestal 16.

The operation of the telegraph key with the improved vibrator attached thereto is as follows: In the first place, the tension of the spring 27 must be so adjusted that it will slightly overcome the tension of the spring 1 I and thereby normally hold the key lever l in. an intermediate position (see Fig. 2), in. which position of said lever 4 the cooperating key controlled contacts? and 8 are slightly separated so that the line circuit is broken. between the said two contacts. l\ormall also, of course, the circuit is broken between the contacts 34 and 24", and the vibratory pendulum is held in the normal position shown in Fig. 3.

To produce dashes, the key lever 5 is pressed downward in the usual way, so as to thereby close the line circuit between the contacts 7 and 8. To produce dots, the key lever 4- is pressed upward so as to raise the trip rod 31 and cause the latter to move the trip lever 26 into its retracted or inoperative position shown in Fig. 4, thus releasing the vibratory pendulum 24.. When. this pendulum is released it will rapidly vibrate, and each time that it moves toward the pedestal 16 its contact 24 will be thrown against the contact 34 of the contact screw 34-, and the said contact point operating as a stop causes the said spring pendulum to vibrate backward. As is evident, each time that the contact 24- strikes the contact point 34-, the line circuit will be closed and. a short electrical impulse is sent out, such as required to produce sounds representing a (lot in. the sounders of the local and of the distant instruments. hen the vibratory pendulum is released, it will make a large number of contacts with the point of the screw 34 before it will become at rest. ln fact, it will make the most positive contacts with the point of the said screw for a number of vibrations many times greater than the maximum number required in sending telegraphic 1nessages. Hence, as is evident, to send the proper number of dots in any message, it is only necessary to hold up the key lever 1- until the proper number of vibrations of the pendulum have been made and the proper number of sounds produced in the sounders.

The great advantage of this improved vi 1 operating member for said spring,-and a secbrator over other forms hitherto devised is 0nd contact with which the spring carried that it may be operated by the usual key lever of the standard telegraph key, so that the operator has no difficulty whatever to become accustomed to the use thereof. In fact, the 0 erator has only to accustom himself to hol ing the key lever up for the proper interval of time necessary to roduce the proper number of vibrations o the pendulum, and this is a very trifling matter, because all operators have accustomed themselves to readilycount the rapidly repeated sounds of the sounder. As is also well known, all operators are trained to operate a vertically movable key lever. The vertically disposed or suspended pendulum operates very much better than a horizontally disposed pendulum. Its vibratory movements are much more positive and repeat themselves with greater recision than a horizontally disposed pen ulum.

By screwing the contact screw 34 toward the pendulum, the sound produced by the sounder may be made heavier, and by adjusting the said screw away from said pendulum, the sound produced by the sounder may be made lighter. collar 33 of the trip rod 31, the said rod may be properly set to different instruments, the key levers of which vary somewhat in osition with respect to the bases of the sai instruments. By adjustments of the weight 25 on the lower end of the pendulum, the speed or interval of vibration of the said pendulum may bevaried. Another very important feature is found in the fact that the movable contact is carried directly by the pendulum and is thrown by the pendu-.

lum directly against the relatively fixed contact, so that the latter operates as a fixed abutment to intercept the movements of the pendulum in one direction. This produces a positive and well defined engagement between the circuit closing contacts of the vibrator and makes the closing and opening of the circuit depend only upon the vibratory movements of the endulum.

The improved vi rator is preferably made in the form of an attachment, that is, in the form of a device which as an entirety is adapted for a plication to and removal from a telegraph ey of standard construction. When thus applied to a telegraph key it is entirely out of the way and takes up no space upon a table or desk other than already occupied by the telegraph key. Furthermore, when the instrument is applied as shown in the drawings, it does not interfere with the sending of messages by the manipu: lation of the key lever 4 in the usual way.

What I claim is z 1. The combination with a telegraph key, of a vertically arranged vibratory spring, a contact carried thereby, a key actuated By adjustments of the contact engages.

2. The combination with a telegraph key, of a vertically arranged vibratory spring, a contact carried thereby, a weight carried by said spring, a key actuated operating member for said spring, and a second contact with which said spring carried contact engages.

3. The combination with a telegraph key, having a vertically movable key lever, of an automatic vibrator, mechanical connections between said key lever and said vibrator for setting said vibrator into action under an upward movement of said key lever and for cutting the same out of action under a downward movement of said key lever, and circuit connections arranged to be opened and closed by movements of said vibrator, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a telegraph key having a vertically movable key lever, of a vibrator comprising a frame, a resilient spring suspended therefrom at its upper end, mechanical connections whereby said spring may be set into and out of action by the key lever of said telegraph key, and circuit c011- nections arranged to be opened and closed by movements of said vibrator, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a telegraph key having a vertically movable key lever, of a vertically supported vibratory spring, mechanical connections between the key lever and the spring for setting said spring into action under movements of the lever of said telegraph key, and circuit connections arranged to be opened and closed by vibratory movements of said spring, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a telegraph key having a vertically movable key lever, of an 1 attachment comprising a support, a vibratory pendulum suspended from said support, a trip lever normally holding said pendulum inoperative, a trip rod operative on said trip lever and itself subject to the said key lever, and circuit connections including a relatively fixed contact and a movable contact, the latter of which is carried by said pendulum and is engageable with said fixed contact under vibratory movements of said pendulum, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a telegraph key having a vertical movable key lever, of an automatic vibrator applied thereto and arranged to be set into action and cut out of action by means of the key lever of said telegraph key, and means for normally holding said key lever in an intermediate position, whereby said key lever may be operated to send messages in the usual way while the said vibrator is applied to said key, sub stantially as described.

8. An automatic vibrator for vertically & 893,115

movable telegraph keys, comprising a resilient pendulum, cooperating circuit closing contacts, one of which is carried directly by said pendulum, and mechanical pendulum tripping means disposed between the key lever and the pendulum normally holding said pendulum inoperative, but serving under a movement of the lever of the tele graph key, to throw said vibrator into action, substantially as described.

9. An attachment for telegraph keys, comprising a support adapted to be removably secured to the key, a vertically arranged vibratory spring attached to said support, mechanical actuating means for connecting the key lever and the spring for actuating the spring upon operation of the key lever, and circuit connections adapted to be opened and closed by the movement of said spring, substantially as described.

10. An attachment for telegraph keys, comprising a support adapted to be removably secured to the key, a resilient pendulum attached to said support, mechanical connections between the key lever and the pendulum for actuating the pendulum upon operation of the key lever, and circuit connections adapted to be opened and closed by the movement of said pendulum, substantially as described.

11. An attachment for telegraph keys, comprising a support adapted to be removably secured to the key, a vibratory pendulum suspended from said support, a trip lever normally holding said pendulum inoperative, a trip rod operative on said trip lever and. itself subject to said key lever, and circuit connections including a relatively fixed contact and a movable contact, the latter of which is carried by said pendulum and is engageable with said fixed contact under vibratory movements of said pendulum, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

FRANK T, V AIL.

Witnesses:

MALiE HOEL, F. D. MnnonAN'r. 

